Cabled ocean observatories, like the Martha's Vineyard Coastal Observatory
(MVCO), and new sensors like the Flow Cytobot are enabling scientists to study
plankton community structure and processes with unprecedented detail. MVCO is
connected to shore by a fiber optic cable that provides unlimited power and data
transmission capabilities 24/7 and allows scientists to plug in various
instruments or sensors. One of the MVCO sensors is the Flow Cytobot, an
automated flow cytometer that makes continuous measurements of plankton size,
abundance and other characteristics, and takes video images of organisms for
identification. It can be reprogrammed from remote locations, such as a lab
ashore, to respond to changing conditions. Scientists can monitor seasonal
changes in populations and growth rates of specific populations, important to
understanding such phenomena as harmful algal blooms. OS42A-04 A New
Submersible Imaging-in-Flow Instrument to Monitor Nano-and Microplankton:
Imaging Flow Cytobot